NCAA Wrestling Championships Are Underway for the Cowboys

Six Wyoming Cowboy wrestlers are in action at the 2015 NCAA Championships in St. Louis, Missouri.

The Pokes have five wrestlers that are making a return trip to the NCAA's, including seniors Tyler Cox and Shane Woods. They are making their third appearance. Seniors Andy McCulley and Dakota Friesth, along with sophomore Benjamin Stroh are back for a second time. Junior Tanner Harms is at the NCAA's for a first time.

The Cowboys have finished in the top 25 twice during head coach Mark Branch's previous six seasons. They've accumulated eight All-America honors since 2009.

Three Pokes won either a preliminary round or opening round match during session I. A pair of seniors, McCulley and Woods advanced. McCulley registered a 9-4 decision over John Staudenmayer of North Carolina. Woods had to go extra time and came away with a 4-2 sudden victory against Jordan Haught of Virginia Tech.

The other UW wrestler with a victory was the sophomore Stroh. He won a preliminary match with a 4-0 decision over Jack McKeever of Binghamton. Unfortunately Stroh lost his next match by major decision, 10-2, to Sam Brooks of Iowa.

The rest of the Wyoming contingent lost in the opening round and are in the wrestlebacks.

The Cowboys were tied for 23rd with 3 team points after the opening session.